Brothers and Sisters,
This is going to be a little long but I felt I had to share..
As many of you know we started feeding the homeless on a corner we now call "The Cove" a little over a year ago. In the process a Church was started there and Brother Andy picked it up and has been preaching there faithfully for the entire time. This week Andy had to be out of town and being the faithful Minister that he is he asked if I would go preach on Sunday so they wouldn't be alone. I love all of these folks so it is an easy answer because rarely do I go there that I don't get Ministered to! Yesterday was no exception...
We showed up and there were only a couple of homeless folks there, Mary and Joe. This week Jack and Taz headed off north on a plan to homestead some land up in Utah, Wyoming or where ever it is available so we expected the turn out to be light. I pulled my bike right up in the middle because I wanted to share a Todd Agnew song and needed the stereo. We had just finished listening to the song, I got my Bible out and we were just beginning to share when a car drives up, a couple of folks get out and quickly head toward the intersection up on the interstate. We watched with curiosity as they come heading back with a young girl that looked about 8 that had Down Syndrome. The little girl was obviously alone and lost wandering in the middle of a VERY busy intersection.
It wasn't long before 2 police cars arrived and the 2 women were busy with them. The husband got his own small child and comes over to us, looks at me and says "I have that same Bible". We had a nice greeting, he said his name was John and he asked if we were ministering, I told him it was Church and he was welcome! We talked a little bit about what we were going to talk about and he produced a small pocket Bible which brought out some funny comments about concealed carry (You may have to be from Texas to appreciate that!) I opened my vest to show my concealed "Sword" in addition to the big one I had in my hands and we all laughed. He asked if he could read and promptly read just about everything I had on my notes from the earlier sermon at our Biker Church! I told him he would probably freak out if he saw my notes and we all laughed and said isn't that just like God! I wish all of you could have seen and felt the what we did as John stood there speaking and praying over us. God is Awesome!
Now the Cops are over with John's wife as she was over there praying the power of Jesus over that precious child . The parents had already called, been told where she was and they were on the way. They arrived and they were Muslims. Her mother teaches at the Muslim school that is right there, had gone to the restroom to come back and find her daughter gone. To see the Love of Christ reach out and help a child, no matter what the beliefs is an awesome thing. These wonderful believers of Christ see the little girl and go help. How awesome it is to see people serve with the Love of Christ and show EVERYONE no matter who they are..
This long story has a point.. God is out there working every day. Are you out there to help and to witness? Are you seeing miracles like this regularly? I can testify that if you are out there serving, watching, listening and paying attention you can be so blessed just like we were yesterday.. Where 2 or more are gathered HE will be with you.
One of the last things John said was "We had heard about the Christian bikers out here in this area" I asked how and he said "Through the grapevine" How awesome it is to be connected to the Vine! :-) (John 15: 5-8)
With Much Love,
Pastor Rick
Church at the Cove...
Jack, Taz and BabyGirl...
We have known for a while that Jack and Taz have been planning to move on. The plan was to leave at the end of October on bicycles taking with them Taz’s dog, “Baby Girl”. Andy, from Church at the Cove, contacted Rick Monday to let us know that they would be leaving Thursday...so Sandwich Day this week was bittersweet. I regret that we didn't have time to have a special gathering but as always, things usually line up just as they are suppose to be. The church down the street from The Cove now allows our friends to stay on their large covered porch which provides nice shelter, electricity and showers every other week. This church will have special blessings waiting on them in heaven...I giggle at the thought of some of these big fancy church monstrosities that are around to even consider offering a side of their building to help shelter these folks...I mean really...what would the neighbors think!! Jesus will sort all that out someday so I will try to leave that one alone.
Back to Sandwich Day…Me, Rick, Jerry, Randy and Cameo pulled up to see Jack and Taz working on one of the bike chains. Naturally, all guys migrated to the project and the expert advice was on. Susie was there along with Chris and Steve. Everyone took a sandwich and like so many times before…just hung out taking in the beautiful day. This is Thursday morning and if all has gone according to plan, Jack, Taz and Baby Girl are one the way to a new and better life. They have our address and have promised to stay in touch and we have promised to post their reports on the Sandwich Diaries. With that…my prayer is as follows:
Lord, In Jesus Name – thank you for the privilege of knowing Jack and Taz this past year. Thank you for allowing us to share the gospel with Jack and watch his faith grow stronger each day. Please use him as a powerful witness to the freedom that is found by making Jesus Lord and Savior. Lord, I know that Taz knows God and I believe he is more in tune with the Holy Spirit than he probably understands at this time…my request for Taz is for him to meet Jesus and form a relationship with the humanity of God. Please keep them protected and provided for as they travel. Please don’t let them forget us!
------ Vicki -----